President Hinckley "still lives," he said. "All that we knew about him continues. His spirit has simply gone home to that God who gave him life. Wherever I go in this beautiful world, a part of this cherished friend will always go with me."

President Henry B. Eyring, who was named in October as second counselor in the First Presidency following the death of longtime counselor President James E. Faust, said in the past few days, he has remembered President Hinckley's voice when a difficult problem was brought to him.

"Time after time, he would quietly say something like this, with a pleasant smile, 'Oh, things will work out."'

His accomplishments all had one thing in common, President Eyring said: "Always they were to bless individuals with opportunity. And always he thought of those with the least opportunity, the ordinary person struggling to cope with the difficulties of everyday life and the challenge of living the gospel of Jesus Christ."

President Boyd K. Packer, who served as acting president of the Quorum of the Twelve during President Hinckley's administration, said he first met President Hinckley more than 50 years ago. He remembered his colleague's ability to communicate, saying he began writing as a young man and never quit doing so.

His ability to communicate was legendary, he said. "I have regarded this power of communication and charm in President Hinckley as brotherly love and humility. It was always apparent whether he was with laborers on a dusty road, or a banquet in a presidential palace." Elder Earl C. Tingey, of the Presidency of the Seventy, spoke of the church leader's "footprints in the sand," as an example to all of personality traits they can follow.

Perhaps his most important footprint was his love of people. "Thank you for letting us know you loved us. We are better because of you."

Bishop H. David Burton said President Hinckley was the only prophet young Latter-day Saints have ever known, and lauded their love for him when they used text messages after his death on Sunday urging each other to wear Sunday best to school on Monday as a tribute uniquely their own.

"To use their vernacular, he was awesome! He connected! Because of him, they know what it means to 'stand a little taller,' 'do your best,' 'raise the bar' and what the 'six B's' are: be grateful, be smart, be clean, be true, be humble, be prayerful."

President Hinckley's daughter, Kathleen H. Walker, closed the meeting with prayer, remembering that her father "has worn out his life in thy service. ... May the things we have learned remain with us forever ... as we continue to move forward in every way to bring honor to his life and to his name."